3 years ago
We visited Le Clos de la Rose at the end of Octobe...
We visited Le Clos de la Rose at the end of October 2014/beginning of November during half term week. There were four of us: two adults and two teenage girls. La Maison de Vigneron was perfect for us; both bedrooms had an en suite which gave enough privacy to both age groups. The kitchen/dining area downstairs was very well equipped, and we took advantage of that and the patio outside (yes, we got lucky with the weather).
Le Clos de la Rose is a truly lovely and relaxing place. Letsie and Bill are extremely welcoming, full of suggestions for things to do as well as hints and tips to help you on your way. Vineyards surround them and Letsie was able to take us to three delightful and very accommodating vineyards that welcomed us when we arrived and allowed us to taste the wine (which was spectacularly good, and that s coming from someone who is not a French wine enthusiast), though their understanding of un peu was a little different to mine. It is a relaxed part of the country, and that in turn, allowed us to relax and feel at home very quickly. Letsie and Bill made it feel like a home from home for us.
Le Puy Notre Dame is itself a very old village dating back to the time of Eleanor of Acquitaine, and is dominated by the church at its centre, and, of course, the surrounding vineyards. There are two restaurants in the village (we only went to one which was very good indeed and very reasonably priced), and a very delightful bakery. Be warned, the best choice is first thing in the morning and, if memory serves, it opens at 7am. There is nothing quite like fresh French bread (and I bake my own bread at home). At the moment there is no supermarket, so other groceries (including milk) are a short drive away.
If you are of a mind to explore, there are many places nearby which are beautiful and interesting. We explored Saumur and Angers, visited Fontevraud Abbeye, and the chateaux at Montsorreau, Breze, and Montreuil Bellay. We also spent a wonderful afternoon at Le Cadre Noir, which is a world famous school of equitation. We also explored the troglodyte caves in the area whenever we came across them (notably in Montsorreau and Cunault). Whilst at Angers, we took the girls to Le Parc Aventure which is a French version of Go Ape, and which they thoroughly enjoyed. It is good for all ages, with a number of different trails depending on height, ability, and your own sense of adventure. We arrived as the park opened and had no trouble getting in, but a group that arrived later were turned away, so there is clearly a limit to numbers, and it may be worth booking ahead during busy periods. There are many more places besides, all of which are listed on the website and in a helpful booklet in the gite. Both of these can help you plan your holiday.
We really enjoyed our visit to Le Clos de la Rose and hope to return soon (as we ve run out of the very lovely wine we bought). One last thing to mention, the 2010 Google maps view of the gateway is different to how it looks now (see pictures attached).